Signal attachment for linotype-machines.



PATNNTED APR. 14, 1908.

No. 884,934. A1).s.KNoX.

SIGNAL ATTACHMENT PoR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1906.

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DANA S. KNOX, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SIGNAL ATTACHMENT FOR LINOTYPE-MACHINES.-

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed May 14, 1906. Serial No. 316,675.

To all whom. it may concern: Beit known that I, DANA S. KNOX, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Attachments for Linotype-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked' thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in signal or alarm attachments for linotype machines and it consists of a neat, small, easily attached, cheap and efficient device for attracting the operators or attendants attention when the molten metal in a linotype metal pot has reached a certain point Where it should bel replenished. I provide means of giving such signal during each cast of a line, a period of three seconds, and 'at no other time, thus doing away with the annoyance of a continuous signal'and the danger of the circuit being closed by the shrinking of the metal while cooling or other outside interference.

My construction includes a float composed of non-combustible material which protrudes into the metal pot and controls a lever which when the pot contains asuflicient amount of metal, is held in such a position that no signal is given. When, however, the metal is diminished or' reduced to a predetermined level, the float acting on the lever .throws its free extremity into position to engage an electrical contact and close a circuit in which a signal or alarm device is located. The construction is such, however, that thisl signal can only be given when the pot swings forwardly to the casting osition. Hence the signal when. given is only instantaneous, and as the operation continues the signal will be intermittent. alarm and it also prevents the possibility of closing the circuit except when the machine is in o eration, since when the pot is in its norma position the lever is not in position to engage the contact and close the circuit.

It is not desirable that a signal shall be given when the machine is not in operation even though the metal in the pot for some reason should be sufficiently reduced to throw the lever into such position that 4when the potv This prevents a continuousmoves forwardly to the casting position, the circuit will be closed'.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction as well as the function it is intended to perform, I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figurell is a sectional view taken through a linotype metal pot equipped with my improvements and-shown in suitable proximity to an electrical contact for closing a signaling circuit. Fig. 2

is a detail view of the contact lever and ,its

actuating Hoat. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic. vljeW illustrating means for producing signalsI or the alarms by virtue of my improvement,`

where a number o'f linotype machines are dividual circuit and signaling device though all the circuits are supplied from the same electrical source.

The same reference characters the same parts in all the views.

ALet the numeral 5 designate a linotype pot of ordinary construction. In this pot thepiston for pumping the molten metal during the operation of casting a line is designated and the piston rod 7. Myimindicate provement ,has nothing to do with thesev eatures of the construction. This pot, however, is provided with a downwardly, extending arm 8 which engages a pin 9 which forms a support upon which the pot swings during the ordinary operation of the device.-

That is to say every time a line is cast the pot swings forwardly or toward the right referring to Fig. 1 and, when it reaches a redeterrnined position the molten metal is orced out through the passage 10 and the line castin act is performed. I take advantage o this movement of the pot to produce signals only when the pot is in its' employed *Each machine has its o'wn inl nected with a rod 18 to Whose lower extremity is attached a float 19 which protrudes into the chamber of the pot and rises and falls as the level of the metal fluctuates therein. When the quantity of metal in the pot is sufficient, the position of the floatvis such that the free extremity of the circuit-closing lever follows the course of the dotted line B in Fig. 1 and does not engage the contact 16 of the electrical circuit.

`When, however, the metal is sufliciently low gets so low that there is n'ot enough within the pot to melt the pigs or slugs which are thrown into the pot 1n solid form, in which event it would be -necessary to stop the machine until the fresh sup lycould be melted. By virtue of my signa ing apparatus the metal is never allowed to get so low but thatv an additional pig or supply of cold metal may be thrown in and the operation continued sinceY the body c of the molten metal will be such as to melt the cold metal without interference or delay ,in the operation of the machine. f

The float 19 is preferably composed of carbon which is at once buoyant, and not aHected by the heat. Moreover the metal will not adhere to it.

In my improved construction l place all parts entirely out of the way, yet where they can be seen or reached or removed entirely even while the machine is running.

In forming the attachment between the float rod 18 and the lever, I employ a s ring 20 having one extremity attached to t e lever while a pin 21 is attached to its opposite extremity and passes through registering openings formed in the upper extremity of the rod and the a'djacentend of the lever. This is a convenient and satisfactory way of forming the connection between the fioat and the lever though it is evident that any suitable means may be employed and would be operative.

Referring to Fig. 4 let the numeral 22 designate a source of electricity from the opposite poles of which lead wires or conductors 23 and 24. In this view three signal bells. 17 are employed. Each of these bells or signal-L ing devices is connected with the conductor 23 at a binding post 25. The conductor 23 leads directly to the bell farthest to the left in this figure, while branch wires 26 and 27 lead to the binding posts 25 ofthe other bells. The conductor 24 1s connected with all the levers 13 of my improvement by means of suitable connections. As shown in the drawing the lever farthest to the left is connected directly with this conductor while branch conductors 28 and 29 lead to the other levers By virtue of this arrangement the circuit will be closed by a lever 13 connected with any linotype machine, as soon as the 'metal has become sufficiently lowered in the pot to actuate the lever as heretofore explained. The signal, however, will only be given at the machine in which the metal is low since in all the other machines the levers remaining in their normal position will not close the circuit as the pot moves forwardly to the casting position.

Attention is called to the fact that the long arm 15A of the lever 13 with which the float is connected, is heavier than the op osite arm 15 and vtherefore the tendency of tie float is to move downwardly. Hence as the level of the metal becomes lower in the pot, the float will move downwardly and allow the long arm of the lever to move in alcorresponding direction, thus throwing the short arm 15 of the lever upwardly and when this movement is suflicient, the short arm 15 of the lever will engage the contact 16 when the pot is -moved forwardly to the casting position,

thus giving the signal and notifying the operator that the metal is low in the pot.

While I have shown and described electrical signaling mechanism, it must be understood that any suitable signaling device may be employed and is within the scope of the claims of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In-a signal device for linotype machines, the combination with a receptacle for molten metal, of an alarm device independently mounted, aVV lever fulcrumed on the receptacle, a carbon float protruding into the molten metal of the receptacle and pivotally connected with one extremity of the lever to operate the same, the other extremity of the lever having an inclined contacting face which passes back and forth under the alarm when the receptacle has reached a predetermined point in its operating travel, said contacting face actuating the alarm in both directions of travel, substantially as described.

VIn testimony whereof .l afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANA S. KNOX. Witnesses:

A. J. QBRIEN, DENA NELSON. 

